Envelop.



B. A. HOPPER.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED PEB..14, 1914.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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BERT ALFORD HOPPER, OF BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ENVELOP.

Application filed February 14, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT ALroRn HOPPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Big Rapids, in the county of Mecosta and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in envelops and more par ticularly to that class known as safety envelops, the object of the invention being to provide an envelop of the above character which is so constructed that the same cannot be opened by any unauthorized person, without detection.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety envelop whereby after the same has been opened by steaming or other similar processes, it will be unfit for use again.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an envelop of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at the same time, is simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an envelop constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the body of an envelop which, in the present instance is elongated in form and is constructed from a substantially rectangular blank, as illustrated in 3, said blank being provided at its central portion and upon each side thereof with the outstanding tabs or tongues 2.

In the construction of the body of the envelop, the side portions 3 and 4 of the blank are folded inwardly upon the body of the blank and the inner edges of said side portions overlapped, as shown at 5, and are provided with a plurality of alined spaced openings 6, which extend throughout the en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 818,748.

tire length of the longitudinal edges of the side portions. Inserted within the openlngs 6 and having portions thereof alternately arranged upon the inner and outer sides of the envelop, is an elastic strip 7 one end of which is secured by the flap 2 which is normally closed and is held in its closed position by any suitable form of paste or glue, which will readily adhere to the material of which the envelop is to be made. The other end of the strip 7 is secured in position by means of a flap 8 which may be of any suitable form but, in the present instance, is disclosed as of a substantially triangular shape and glued or otherwise secured to the side strips 3 and 4. In the fastening of the strip 7 the end thereof which terminates at the open end of the envelop, is arranged beneath the flap 8 and securely held by glue or other fastening material used. The flap 2, after the contents of the envelop have been placed in position, is secured down by means of adhesive material applied to the tongue and should attempt be made to open the envelop by steaming the flaps 2 and 2 loose, it will be readily apparent that either end of the strip 7 will be loosened, the tension of the strip withdrawing either end from a certain number of the openings 6, thus leaving a portion of the envelop open. The elastic strip 7 is placed under tension to a certain degree before the ends thereof are secured in position beneath the flaps 2 and 8, so that should either end of the strip become loosened, it will contract and leave a certain portion of the flaps 3 and 4 open. In the construction of the envelop, the elastic strip is threaded through the openings by means of the especially constructed needle or other tool and in this manner the person who has fradulently opened the envelop, will be unable to close the same only by the use of such tools.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it

' will be apparent that I have provided a simple and durable envelop whereby the same cannot be readily opened without detection and if once opened for fraudulent purposes, cannot be readily closed Without detection. It will also be apparent that the device itself is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice, without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is v 1. A device of the class described including a body blank having its side portions folded inwardly and the longitudinal edges thereof overlapped, said overlapped edges being provided with spaced openings, an elasticstrip extending through said openings and placed under tension, and means for securing the ends of said strip in posi' tion when placed under tension, whereby should either end of the strip become loosened, the tension thereof would draw the same from the openings.

2. A device of the class described including a body blank having its side portions folded inwardlv and their longitudinal edges overlapped, the overlapped longitudinal edges of said side flaps being provided with spaced openings, an extended elastic strip arranged within said openings and having portions thereof alternately arranged upon the inner and outer sides of the envelop, tongues formed upon each end of the body blank and folded inwardly upon the ends of the side portions, one of said tongues securing one end of the elastic strip in position and a third flap adapted to secure the other end of the strip in position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BERT ALFORD HOPPER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR J. BUTLER, CHARLES H. KANEHL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

